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You Had Me at Football

We are just a few days away from the most wonderful time of the year. And I don’t mean Christmas.

I’m talking about college football season.

Which means there is hope that temperatures will eventually begin to drop and there will be days ahead filled with twelve straight hours of football and bowls of chips and queso eaten while wearing yoga pants and a Texas A&M football t-shirt.

Or maybe that’s just me.

There is not much better than a Saturday morning filled with ESPN Gameday and rolling your eyes at Lee Corso and cheering on the team you love while desperately hoping the team you love to hate is losing to some unranked team that no one has ever heard of.

But it’s not just college ball. It’s Friday night lights at the local high school and the opening theme to Monday Night Football. It has a way of bringing people together.

And I appreciate that it usually brings people together with plenty of guacamole.

Anyway, my focus is on football right now. And it got me thinking about some of the greatest football movies of all time. Please know that this isn’t a comprehensive list. I realize there are many, MANY, stellar football movies out there. These are just the ones I happen to prefer.

And have maybe watched one or sixty-two times.

1. Remember the Titans

Let’s be honest. You can’t go wrong with any movie starring Denzel Washington. Not only is he easy on the eyes, but he’s one of the best actors of our time.

But it’s the based on real-life story of Coach Boone and the challenges he faced coaching at T.C. Williams High School that are the heart and soul of this movie.

And I dare you not to get chills during the scene where he takes them to a cemetery where the Battle of Gettysburg was fought and delivers these words:

“This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin’ with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don’t care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe… I don’t know, maybe we’ll learn to play this game like men.”

2. Rudy

If I had to pick a favorite, this would be it. I have seen it approximately 1,147 times and never fail to cry like a baby at the end. Like ugly cry. Like curl up in a ball and weep as Rudy’s teammates begin to chant “RUDY!, RUDY!” and ultimately carry him off the field.

Watch it immediately if you’ve never seen it. You will instantly feel that the world is a better place and that there is nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it.

3. We Are Marshall

It just dawned on me that in real life, football coaches aren’t as good-looking as Denzel Washington and Matthew McConaughey. Even though in this movie Matthew McConaughey has some impressive 70s sideburns working.

We Are Marshall is the true story of Marshall University and the tragic 1970 plane crash that killed thirty-seven players on their football team. It’s a tale of hope and rebuilding and coming through a terrible crisis stronger than you were before.

4. Everybody’s All-American

Oh, this movie. It’s Jessica Lange at her heartbreakingly beautiful best as Bab Rogers, the LSU Magnolia queen, who marries Gavin Grey (Dennis Quaid) the football hero. They are the golden couple who have it all. Until real life enters in.

Gavin never gets over the glory days of being a gridiron star and Babs, who only had dreams of marrying her hero (“I’m majorin’ in Gavin and me.”) becomes the steel magnolia she needs to be to save her family and her marriage.

It’s worth watching just for Jessica Lange. She is amazing.

5. Jerry Maguire

“You had me at hello.”

Yes, this is a movie that centers around football. But it’s really a love story about finding what you want out of life and not losing your love and passion for who and what is most important to you.

So that’s my list.

I’ve already realized that I forgot Brian’s Song. So let’s make that an unofficial #6 on the list because you will cry your eyes out.

And isn’t that what football is all about?

Probably not.

Consider these movies your preseason warmup. Go watch one today. They will make you think you can smell fall in the air and queso on the stove.

bigmama

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Comments

Jean

Great list Big M. When I was growing up, barely in the age of the rotary phone, we saw a movie ONE time. Except for GWTW. I’m so glad ive seen Remember the Titans hundreds of times.

Tara

I love all these movies and I LOVE football. I am from Huntington, WV, home of Marshall University. I am so proud to say that and always will be. We have a tragic history but wonderful community! I still get chills when we chant WE ARE…..MARSHALL! There is nothing like a Marshall University home game and I invite anyone who gets an opportunity to come visit us. You will have a wonderful time!

misskrys

Great list – As a self proclaimed sports movie junkie I agree with the first three – haven’t seen Everybody’s All-American (just added it to my list). Not a big fan of Jerry McGuire though, but I think that has more to do with Tom Cruise than anything else.

Sarah

Gig ’em, Ags… Can’t wait to deck out in maroon and cheer on our boys!!!!!

Whoop!!!

Diane H.

Facing the Giants is also fabulous. Love Remember the Titans and Rudy–they both make me cry, too.

Debbie Keese

i think those are all great movies and have enjoyed each and every one of them.

Joyce C

A more recent favorite that I have is Invicible-for some reason, I just love that movie. It is based on a true story. If you haven’t seen it…you should watch it.

chris

I like football..I will watch it ..but I don’t love it..but I DO love Remember the Titans..I got chills just reading about it..will watch it anytime..all the time! the only other one I have seen is Jerry Maguire..and it’s a great show

Laura

The Blind Side is one that always makes me cry too! The soundtrack to Remember the Titans was awesome! Good list:)

Donna

Awww – there is just nothing like it! The air smells different…a little crisp…the excitement of getting to that stadium and the world goes away for a couple of hours….it’s FOOTBALL!

I’m from Louisiana and I’m bleed purple and gold!…and then on Sundays…black and gold!🙂

When my girls were in high school – they were cheerleaders and we made every out of town game….in August and September thought we were going to die from heat stroke and in December and January thought we were going to freeze to death.

We caravaned to out of town games….and tailgated at home games…oh such sweet memories!

Thatgaljill

I am a born and bred fan of the University of Southern California (Fight on Ree!), and I sob at Rudy (for the uninitiated about the University of Notre Dame) every freakin’ time!

I’d put Notre Dame in the teams I love to hate column with UCLA, but dagnabit, the people in South Bend are so amazingly nice, you just can’t hate ’em. Now my cousin George… well during football season, he’s another story.

Cat Cooks in WI

Everybody’s All American. One of my favorite films. Quaid and Lange are perfectly cast and their chemistry is all consuming. Timothy Hutton, as “Cake”, is wonderful, as well. A must see, if you haven’t already done so. In fact, think I’ll throw that one into the DVD player while I clean the kitchen this morning!!!!

Christy Mc

I sure am glad that to know there are other wives/mom’s out there who are totally happy that the college football drought is over!!! I am a Texas (Hook ‘Em) fan, and DH is a fan of that college north of here in Norman (the one that starts with O and ends in U whatever…;-)..) Anywhoo, we are camped out EVERY Saturday watching the games and love it!!! We have watched almost all of those movies about a bazillion times, with the exception of Everybody’s All American, will have to get that one and see…Love your choices, and love college football!!! On a side note-I looked at our (UT’s) schedule the other day, and it was totally weird that we don’t play y’all (A&M) anymore for the last game of the season…gonna miss it…

http://theheartofjunebug.blogspot.com Junebug

Great choices! Yes, I love college football! My wardrobe will be yellow and green for months now! GO DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Julie

Just like you bigmama, only my shirt will be burnt orange!😉 HOOK ‘EM!!🙂

I love college football, and the hub and I already have a date night planned with our wide butts on the couch watching South Carolina and Vandy (we cut down our cable and don’t get ESPNU anymore, so we can’t watch the Ags… :P). This is one of our favorite times of the year. We LOVE college football!!!🙂

And, I think the only one you missed on your list was Blind Side–great movie. We love Rudy and Remember the Titans–even though we have seen them so many times we can recite dialogue, we still watch them if we see them on. I also love Radio–not really a football movie because it covers all sports, but still a great movie!

Heather

I love football season, too!!! My husband, who loves playing sports, does not love watching them on TV. So it’s usually me and my embroidery (ha!) watching football and yelling at the TV🙂

And now I shall go add these movies to our netflix list…

kay blunck

We love Rudy so much. It always reminds us of our oldest son, the littlest kid on any team but always the heart and soul of each team. He, himself, has gone watch the VHS version till it was worn out, then bought the DVD version. LOVE Rudy!

Kim

I love your list but I think you missed one (or maybe you just aren’t old enough to remember) – Brian’s Song, with James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Saddest movie ever!

jep

My hubby and I are always so happy when the college football season comes around…our favorite time of the year. And, we are right there with you pulling for our Aggies! Gig ‘Em!

SORRY

I’m about to kick over a hornet’s nest, I know, but … I have a real problem with our nation’s fixation on high school (and junior high) football. I have NO problem with the game; my problem is with the expenditure of huge amounts of scarce local government resources on this sport, while laying off art and music teachers, using old text books, putting children into sub-standard buildings … you name it, I’ve seen it. How can any person who is concerned about our nation’s standing in the world condone this?

By the way, I have the same problem with big time college football … let kids play intramural or league sports — just don’t waste my tax dollars on it.

Lynn M

Fantastic list. Add to it “Friday Night Lights” – both the movie and the TV series – and you have the complete football fan’s movie library.

Laura W

I totally agree with Facing the Giants! We love it here!

gigi

love all the movies…My husband and I are die hard WV Mountaineer fans and are excited this year more than ever..We are now proud members of BIG 12 and cant wait for our first BIG 12 game which will be against Baylor…..Lets Go Mountaineers….

Carolyn

What about FNL….the best show ever!! So much better than the movie…Taylor Kitsch and Kyle Chandler….

Alice H

Love those movies. I have never seen Brian’s Song or Everybody’s All American.

Another one of my favorites is Blind Side. Love that! Oh and Varsity Blues (but that is not a “family” movie!).

And I think I will go rewatch Friday Night Lights on Netflix right now!!